缅北禁地

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Staff Profile

Dr Sean Molloy

NUAcT Fellow: Economic & Social Sciences

Background

Dr Sean Molloy is a NUAcT Fellow in Law at 缅北禁地, specialising in international law, children's rights, and peacebuilding. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Edinburgh, where his doctoral research examined how states regulate and influence business contributions to peacebuilding. Sean also holds master’s degrees in Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice (University of Ulster, with Distinction) and International Business and Commercial Law (Liverpool John Moores University, with Distinction), and an LLB in Law from Queen’s University Belfast.

Before joining 缅北禁地, Sean held research and teaching positions at the University of Edinburgh, University of Ulster, and Northumbria University, and has collaborated with numerous international organisations and government departments.

His academic career has been complemented by extensive policy consultancy and applied legal work in conflict-affected and transitional settings. He has served as:

  • Consultant to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, contributing legal analysis on emergency law and the protection of rights during states of emergency.
  • Consultant to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on projects relating to constitutional design, legislative scrutiny, and democratic accountability.
  • Legal Expert for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Syria, advising on the governance and regulation of multi-donor trust funds in post-conflict recovery.
  • Research Fellow with the Global Justice Academy at the University of Edinburgh, contributing to the development of the PA-X Peace Agreements Database – now a leading international resource for policymakers and peacebuilding practitioners.

Sean is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and teaches across international law, human rights, and transitional justice. He has also designed and delivered training for Durham Constabulary on applying human rights principles in policing practice.

His career combines academic excellence, policy influence, and global engagement, underpinned by a commitment to strengthening the legal and institutional conditions for sustainable peace and justice.

Memberships and Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) (awarded 2023)
  • Member, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) (since 2022)
  • Member, British International Studies Association (since 2022)
  • Member, Global Network on Children, Youth and International Politics (since 2023)
  • Collaboration with international scholars and practitioners advancing research on children and youth in global governance and peacebuilding
  • Senior Research Affiliate, Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep) (since 2019)
  • Associate Member, Global Justice Academy, University of Edinburgh
  • Consultant Expert Network, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)

Reviewer:

  • International Journal of Human Rights
  • Human Rights Law Review
  • International Journal of Transitional Justice
  • Journal of Human Rights Practice
  • International Journal of Children's Rights
  • European Journal of Political Research
  • USAID, UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, Save the Children, and SwissPeace reports.


Research

Dr Molloy’s research is situated at the intersection of children’s rights, international law, and peacebuilding. His work explores how legal frameworks – including peace agreements, transitional constitutions, and human rights mechanisms – can promote the protection, participation, and empowerment of children in societies recovering from conflict.

Children, Peace Processes and Transitional Justice

Sean is widely recognised for his leadership in developing a new research agenda on children’s inclusion in peace processes. His forthcoming book, Children and Peace Agreements: Inclusion, Rights, and Post-Conflict Futures (Brill/Nijhoff, 2026), provides the first systematic analysis of how peace agreements across the globe have addressed the rights and wellbeing of children.

He is the creator and lead researcher of the Children and Peace Agreements Database, part of the PeaceRep programme at the University of Edinburgh. This open-access database documents how peace agreements incorporate child-related provisions on protection, demobilisation, education, justice, and participation. The project has informed work by UNICEF, civil society organisations, and national peace support teams working to make peace processes more inclusive of children and youth.

His related studies examine:

  • Child participation and voice in international law and peace negotiations.
  • Child soldiers and accountability mechanisms in transitional justice.
  • Socioeconomic rights of children in post-conflict recovery.
  • The role of UN treaty bodies, especially the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in monitoring and advancing children’s rights in fragile states.

His recent articles include:

  • “Children, Socioeconomic Rights and Transitional Justice,” International Journal of Transitional Justice (2025).
  • “Child Soldiers and Peace Agreements: Taking Stock and Moving Forward,” International and Comparative Law Quarterly (2024).
  • “Applying the Lundy Model to Treaty Body Recommendations,” Leiden Journal of International Law (2024).
  • “Exclusionary Inclusion? Peace Agreements and Provisions on Child Protection,” Nordic Journal of Human Rights (2023).
  • “Advancing Children’s Rights in Peace Processes,” Human Rights Law Review (2022).

International Law, Peacebuilding, and Democratic Transitions

Alongside his focus on children, Sean’s wider research investigates how international law and human rights norms shape transitions from conflict to peace and democracy. His work has addressed:

  • The role of sunset clauses and post-legislative scrutiny in ensuring accountability in emergency law.
  • The contribution of business regulation to peacebuilding (Business, Peacebuilding and Regulation: The Role of the State, Routledge, 2024).
  • The relationship between human rights treaty ratification and post-conflict political settlement.
  • The function of national human rights institutions in transitional societies.

Sean has led and contributed to major international research programmes, including:

  • PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (University of Edinburgh) – leading on children’s rights and inclusive peace agreements.
  • International IDEA – researching post-legislative review and democratic governance.
  • Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) – co-authoring the Public Law Series on sunset clauses and accountability.

His work has been cited in numerous high-level policy reports and used by organisations such as the UN, OECD, USAID, and the UK Parliament.

Engagement and Knowledge Exchange

Sean regularly writes for public and policy platforms, including PeaceRep, Peace Insight, Prospect Magazine, and the UK Human Rights Law Blog, helping bridge the gap between academic research and public debate.

He has presented his research at leading international forums, including:

  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) – Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development.
  • SwissPeace Workshop on Financing Peace Processes.
  • British Academy Roundtable on the Common Good and Human Rights.
  • Chatham House Conference on Business and Human Rights.
  • European Network of National Human Rights Institutions Workshop (Croatia) on NHRIs and Peacebuilding.

Sean’s current projects continue to explore how law can help children and young people shape the futures of their societies — ensuring that peacebuilding processes are not only inclusive but genuinely transformative.

Teaching

Sean has taught extensively across international law, human rights, and public law, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. His teaching is informed by his practical engagement with policymakers and human rights actors. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and has previously served as a Lecturer in Law at Northumbria University and a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.

Current Teaching

LAW1222 Introduction to Global Law

LAW 3035 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Law

LAW 8091 Legal Research: Theory and Method

LAW 8099 Dissertation

LAW 3098 Dissertation in La

I welcome PhD applications within the fields of Children's Rights, Public International Law, Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding

Current PhD Students

Ebun Bamigboye, Children's Rights in Peace Processes

Publications

  • Articles

    • Molloy, S. The Child Participation Ecosystem Model: Reframing Children's Participation in Conflict-Affected Contexts. International Journal of Children's Rights 2026. Submitted.
    • Molloy S. . Georgetown Journal of International Affairs 2026. In Press.
    • Molloy, S. Childhood as a Technology of Governance: Developmentalist and Relational Metaphors in Liberal and Adaptive Peacebuilding. Globalizations 2025. In Preparation.
    • Molloy S, Hollingsworth K. To Prosecute or Not to Prosecute: Towards a Relational-Rights Approach to Responding to Child Soldiers. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 2025. In Preparation.
    • Molloy S. . International Journal of Human Rights 2025, epub ahead of print.
    • Molloy S. . Peacebuilding 2025, Epub ahead of print.
    • Molloy S. . International Journal of Transitional Justice 2025, 19(3), 515–533.
    • Molloy S. . London Review of International Law 2024, 12(1), 95-122.
    • Molloy S. . Leiden Journal of International Law 2024, 37(3), 669-693.
    • Molloy S. . International and Comparative Law Quarterly 2024, 73(1), 103-134.
    • Molloy S. . Nordic Journal of Human Rights 2023, 415(4), 432-451.
    • Molloy S. . International Journal of Human Rights 2023, 27(2), 307-334.
    • Molloy S, Smith R. . Cambridge Review of International Affairs 2023, 36(4), 578-596.
    • Molloy, S. . International Journal of Public Legal Education 2022, 6, 1.
    • Molloy, S. . International Journal of Children's Rights 2022.
    • Molloy S. . Human Rights Law Review 2022, 22(3), ngac022.
    • Molloy S. . International Journal of Human Rights 2020. Submitted.
    • Molloy, S. . European Journal of Law Reform 2021, 23(2).
    • Mallory C, Molloy S, Murray CRG. . European Human Rights Law Review 2020, 2020(3), 244-262.
    • Smith R, Molloy S. . Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Rights and Law 2020, 21(2), 139-194.
    • Molloy S. . Journal of Human Rights Practice 2020. Submitted.
    • Smith R, Mallory C, Molloy S. . The International Journal of Human Rights 2020, 24(4), 414-438.

  • Authored Books

    • Molloy S. Children and Peace Agreements: Inclusion Across Negotiation, Text, and Practice. Brill | Nijhoff, 2026. In Preparation.
    • Molloy S. . London: Routledge, 2024.

  • Book Chapters

    • Molloy S. . In: Long, G, Molloy, S, Clough, E, Muggleton, E, Hardacre, J, Bolam, R, Cansino, H, and Luxton, L, ed. The SDGs and Scotland: a discussion paper and initial analysis’. 2019. In Preparation.
    • Molloy S, Paladini B. . In: Andy Carl, ed. Navigating inclusion in peace processes. Conciliation Resources, 2019. In Preparation.

  • Confidential Report

    • Molloy S. . Halifax, Nova Scotia: The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, 2025. In Press.

  • Online Publications

    • Molloy S. . New Zealand: Peace News Network, 2025. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. . New Zealand: Peace News Network, 2025. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, 2025. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. Connecting the Dots: Placing Children Within the Wider Landscape of Peace Studies. PeaceNewsNetwork, 2025. Available at: https://peacenews.com/connecting-the-dots-placing-children-within-the-wider-landscape-of-peace-studies/.
    • Molloy, S. . University of Edinburgh: PEACE REP, 2024. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2023. Available at: .
    • Molloy S, Smith R. . London: London School of Economics and Political Science, 2022. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2022. Available at: .
    • Molloy S, Bell C, Houlihan E, Welikala A, Zulueta-Fülscher K. . Stockholm: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2021. Available at: .
    • Molloy S, Bell C, Houlihan E, Welikala A, Zulueta-Fülscher K. . Verfassungsblog, 2021. Available at: .
    • Mallory C, Molloy S. . London: Prospect Publishing Limited, 2021. Available at: .
    • Molloy S. Unpacking the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in the Loughinisland Case. North East Law Review, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/nelrn/2020/07/02/unpacking-the-northern-ireland-court-of-appeals-decision-in-the-loughinisland-cas/.
    • Molloy S. Unexplained Wealth Orders and Reverse Burdens of Proof. Rights NI, 2020. Available at: http://rightsni.org/2020/07/reverse-burdens-of-proof-and-unexplained-wealth-orders/.
    • Molloy s. Sunset Clauses in historical and contemporary usage. Prospect Magazine, 2020. Available at: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/westminster/40142/coronavirus-and-parliament-a-brief-history-of-sunset-clauses.
    • Molloy S. Peace Agreements and Provisions on Persons with Disabilities. University of Edinburgh: PA-X Blog Series, 2020. Available at: https://psrpdev.law.ed.ac.uk/psrpx/2020/03/16/peace-agreements-and-persons-with-disability-mapping-the-relationship/.
    • Molloy S. Human Rights in Africa in the Context of Covid-19. I-Connect, 2020. Available at: https://www.iconnectblog.com/human-rights-in-africa-in-the-context-of-covid-19/.
    • Molloy S, De Vries F. From anti-terrorism legislation to COVID emergency laws: Can sunset clauses live up to their promise? Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, 2020. Available at: https://ials.sas.ac.uk/ials-blog/browse-past-posts/anti-terrorism-legislation-covid-emergency-laws-can-sunset-clauses-live-their-promise#:~:text=Sunset%20clauses%20in%20practice&text=While%20they%20can%20reinject%20democratic,with%20little%20or%20insufficient%20scrutiny..
    • Molloy S. Covid-19, Emergency Legislation and Sunset Clauses. UK Constitutional Law Blog, 2020. Available at: https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/04/08/sean-molloy-covid-19-emergency-legislation-and-sunset-clauses/.
    • Molloy S, Smith R, Farran S. Covid-19 and the Right to Water: The Impact of Handwashing Guidance in Atolls with Limited Running Water. Opinio Juris, 2020. Available at: https://opiniojuris.org/2020/08/21/covid-19-and-the-right-to-water-the-impact-of-handwashing-guidance-in-atolls-with-limited-running-water/.
    • Molloy S. Covid-19 and Derogations Before the European Court of Human Rights. Verfassungsblog, 2020. Available at: https://verfassungsblog.de/covid-19-and-derogations-before-the-european-court-of-human-rights/.
    • Molloy S, Farran S. Covid-19 and Constitutional Responses to Emergency: Examining Small Island Developing States. North East Law Review, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/nelrn/2020/06/29/covid19/.
    • Molloy S. Breaking international law: the UK is biting off its nose to spite its face. https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2020/09/14/breaking-international-law-the-uk-is-biting-off-its-nose-to-spite-its-face-dr-sean-molloy/: UK Human Rights Law Blog, 2020.
    • Molloy S, Mallory C. Where Brexit leaves the UK's human rights diplomacy. The Conversation, 2019. Available at: https://theconversation.com/where-brexit-will-leave-the-uks-human-rights-diplomacy-124719.
    • Molloy S. A Note on: In the Matter of an Application by Geraldine Finucane for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland). UK Constitutional Law Blog, 2019. Available at: https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2019/03/06/sean-molloy-a-note-on-in-the-matter-of-an-application-by-geraldine-finucane-for-judicial-review-northern-ireland/.

  • Reports

    • Molloy, S. . The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), 2026. In Press.
    • Molloy S, Mousmouti M, De Vries F. . London: Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2025. The PLS Series 3.
    • Molloy S. . The University of Edinburgh: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, 2025.
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2023. PeaceRep : Rethinking peace & transition processes in a changing conflict landscape.
    • Davis J, Erasmus I, Long G, Molloy S, Russell Z. . Edinburgh: Scottish International Development Alliance, 2022.
    • Tyrrell HG, Krupiy TK, Molloy SP, Murray CRG, Mallory CI, Kapogianni V, Hollingsworth KL, Smith RKM. . 缅北禁地 upon Tyne: 缅北禁地, 2022.
    • Molloy S, McCartney C, Newman C, Griffiths C, Rowe M, Oswald M, Soppitt S, Oxburgh G, Hardisty L, Dunn C. . Northumbria University, 2022.
    • Molloy S. . Stockholm: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2021.
    • Molloy S. Written Evidence submitted to UK Government’s Integrated Review of international policy. UK Parliament, 2020.
    • Molloy S. . University of Edinburgh: Political Settlement Research Programme, 2020. Political Settlement Research Programme.
    • Molloy S. Negotiating States of Emergency: What can we learn from conflict-affected settings?. University of Edinburgh, 2020. Political Settlements Research Programme.
    • Molloy S. . University of Edinburgh, 2020. Political Settlements Research Programme. Submitted.
    • Molloy S, Mallory C, and Murray C. Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s past: The UK Government's New Proposals. UK Parliament, 2020.
    • Molloy S. Written Evidence submitted to UK progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Voluntary National Review. UK Parliament, 2019.
    • Kilmurray, A, Molloy, S. Trust Funds in Fragile and Conflict-affected States: Lessons from Northern Ireland. Edinburgh: Global Justice Academy, University of Edinburgh, 2019. (Spotlight Series). In Preparation.
    • Molloy S. . Ebinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2019. Political Settlements Research Programme.
    • Molloy S, Bell C. . Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2019. Political Settlements Research Programme.
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2018. Political Settlements Research Programme.
    • Molloy S. . Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2018. Political Settlements Research Programme.
    • Molloy S. . 2017. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. In Preparation.
    • Bell C, Anderson R, Forster R, Jaede M, Jamar A, Molloy S, Pospisil J, Welikala A, and Wise R. . 2020. British Academy Report. In Preparation.

  • Research Datasets/Databases

    • Molloy S, Bonnet M, Rasmussen AW, Rodrigues C, Tamaru N, Underwood W, Elbasyouny A, Lawrence BG. . 2025. Stockholm: International IDEA.
    • Bell C, Badanjak S, Farquhar A, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, McNicholl K, Molloy S, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. . 2024. Edinburgh: PEACEREP University of Edinburgh.
    • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. . 2024. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
    • Molloy, S. . 2023. 缅北禁地 and University of Edinburgh PEACEREP. In Preparation.
    • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. . 2022. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
    • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, and Wise L. PEACE AGREEMENTS DATABASE AND DATASET. 2020. University of Edinburgh.
    • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, and Wise L. . 2022. University of Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.

  • Working Paper

    • Molloy S. . British Academy Working Paper 2017, 25. Submitted.